Ajani Anderson

ARTIST STATEMENT
I’m from Durham, North Carolina, and I earned my B.A. in African American Diaspora Studies and Art History. Having experience in the art history field has allowed me to delve into the stories, imagery, and ever-fluid culture that characterizes Black American identity. I define my work as visual folktale, and in my art, I speak to the narratives of marginalized people, delving into the complexities of even the intra-communal hierarchies that exist. I use graphite, acrylic and mixed media, to create pieces that can be qualified as somewhere between realistic portraiture and surrealism. This style allows me to tell stories which recognize that even through constant issues and oppression, we have a long history of weaving fairy tales and folklore that look toward a hopeful and equitable future, characterized by a free expression of imagination, innocence and beauty.